I learned something new the other day. I learned that I cannot live without this stuff:

I kid you not, dear readers. It is crack in a jar.

Last week, after many months of anticipation, a Trader Joe’s opened up a mere three blocks from my house. SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! Yes, you read right - three blocks. That’s practically in my own backyard! I can walk or bike there if I want. But, I’ll probably need to take the SUV when I go, if you know what I mean.

Yup. I’ll definitely need the SUV.

Since I wanted to maximize my first Trader Joe’s shopping experience, I did some advance planning via Facebook. I asked my friends in the “Trader Joe’s know” to divulge what their absolute must have products were. Over and over again I got the same response: “Speculoos Cookie Butter”. At the time, I had no idea what Speculoos Cookie Butter was. But, it didn’t matter. If that many people recommended it, I was buying it.

Every year, long before the Thanksgiving dishes are even dried and put away, the Christmas rush is on. That’s when so many of us find ourselves racing around, spending money we don’t have on lots of things we don’t need. It’s crazy! One way that I’ve found to minimize …

I’ve made no secret about the fact that I’m addicted to Nutella. Just leave me alone with my own jar of that creamy, dreamy, chocolatey deliciousness and a great, big spoon, and I’m happy. But, let’s face it. Nutella isn’t exactly considered a health food. It contains gobs of …

When I was a little girl, we lived in house made of pale gray stone. It was the only stone house on our street. All of the others were made of red brick. The front and back flagstone porches were connected by a cobbled path, and the whole property …

Do you have any “pot stirrers” in your life? You know the type. They’re the people who can never leave well enough alone: the ones who always find it necessary to try and create drama in any given situation, (which usually doesn’t even concern them), by saying or doing …

Aside from my family, there are two things in this world that I honestly don’t think I could live without. At the very least, my quality of life would surely suffer without them. They are Nutella and Rice Krispie treats. Seriously. I have to keep the Nutella jar safely …

It’s always so nice to give (and get) a lovely heart-shaped box of chocolates on Valentine’s Day. But, think how much more special such a gift would be if the chocolates were homemade with lots of extra love thrown in! Don’t think you could do it? Think again. Homemade …

The January 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Lauren of Celiac Teen. Lauren chose Gluten-Free Graham Wafers and Nanaimo Bars as the challenge for the month. The sources she based her recipe on are 101 Cookbooks and www.nanaimo.ca.
The Nanaimo bar is …

What is it about ringing in a new year that makes everything seem so fresh, possible and…well, new? I mean, it’s not like the world just magically changed in the span of 24 short hours, at least not my world. All of the problems and issues in my life …

It seems like I just posted the roundup for Breakfast at Tiffany’s and it’s already time for another installment of Dinner and a Movie. Where does the time go?!?! This month’s DaaM is being hosted by my co-host Marc from No Recipes, and the film he chose is the …

Hello and welcome to SGCC! I’m Susan, a professional writer, food columnist, recipe developer, wife, mother, daughter and sister, who used to be a lawyer in a previous life. My love of food comes from a long line of wonderful and creative Italian home cooks who didn’t always have a lot, but knew how to make a lot out of what they had. I hope that you enjoy yourself while you’re here, and visit often! read more >>